“Fruits have sugars such as fructose and sorbitol, and these two nutrients can cause inflammation and gases,” she says. “They also contain fibre, which we all need for healthy gut function, but when consumed in excess it can result in lower digestibility, causing greater abdominal swelling and gases.”
Best: Bananas
Foods rich in potassium—like bananas, plus avocados, kiwis, oranges, and pistachios—prevent water retention by regulating sodium levels in your body and can thus reduce salt-induced bloating. Bananas also have soluble fiber, which can relieve or prevent constipation.
Fruits and vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, prunes, and apricots. These items contain sugars and starches that may cause gassiness and bloating, even though these foods are good for you. Sweeteners can also cause gas and bloating. Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener, can't be digested.
Bananas may cause gas and bloating in some people due to their sorbitol and soluble fiber contents. This seems to be more likely among people with digestive issues or who aren't used to eating a fiber-rich diet.
Berries like blueberries, strawberries and raspberries are high in water content -- in fact, they are 85 to 95 percent water -- which can help decrease bloating. They are also high in fiber, which can help food move through the intestines more quickly and decrease abdominal pressure and bloating.
If you're feeling bloated from excess sodium, “the best tip for quick-ish relief is to drink more water and eat mild foods with potassium, like banana, avocado, and sweet potato,” says Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD.
Avocado. Like nuts, avocados are packed full of good fats and essential fibre and is a high polyol food, meaning the rate of digestion and risk of gas being produced is even higher. Often it's a case of amount – eating ¼ – ½ an avocado is fine but a whole one may cause a problem.
It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
Apples. The teachers' favorite contains sorbitol, a sugar that's naturally in many fruits. Some people's bodies can't absorb it properly, which gives them gas and bloating. It can cause diarrhea, especially for children.
Avocado: The fruit is high in bloat-soothing potassium as well as filling fiber and healthy fats. Banana: Banana is another potassium-rich food and also provides gut-nourishing resistant starch. Cucumber: It contains silica, caffeic acid, and vitamin C, all of which help reduce swelling and minimize water retention.
It's touted for its belly-calming probiotics, but certain types of yogurt could actually be doing you more harm than good. That's because dairy products contain varying levels of the sugar molecule lactose, which gets fermented in your body and creates gas bubbles and bloating, Greer says.
Another issue can be the high levels of soluble fiber in oats. Soluble fiber can cause gas and bloating in some individuals depending on the amount they are consuming.
You might have an intolerance to the egg white, egg yolks, or both. Such an intolerance most commonly leads to gastrointestinal upset, such as abdominal bloating or diarrhea. In some cases, an intolerance can last for years, while others have trouble with eggs for life. It can also occur at any age.
Try it first: Cardio. Whether a nice long walk, a brisk jog, a bike ride, or even a jaunt on the elliptical, cardio will help deflate your bloat. Physical activity such as this will help expel gas that causes pain and help move digestion along.
Lemon water can help with digestion
To relieve bloating, gas, and constipation, drink a cup of lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Lemon contains minerals that promote healthy digestion, alleviate heartburn, and stimulate healthy bowel function by reducing bloat and stimulating bowel movements.
Coffee does cause bloating. It's temporary and doesn't happen to everyone, but for some, that belly bloat results from coffee, and more specifically, caffeine. When you consume caffeine, it may stimulate your gut and lead to spasms that cause bloating.
Ongoing bloating is not normal and may have many causes, so you should call your doctor if you feel bloating every day. Bloating is a chronic and bothersome condition for a large minority of the population. Anywhere from an estimated 16% to 31% of us have bloating and distension.